Four MPL PH teams Directly Invited in the Sibol MLBB Qualifiers Phase 2
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The top four teams from the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Professional League (MPL) Philippines (PH) Season 8 have received direct invites for the upcoming Sibol MLBB qualifiers. The invited teams are MPL PH Season 8 champions Blacklist International, first runner-up ONIC PH, second runner-up Omega Esports, and third runner-up Nexplay EVOS. The second phase of the qualifiers will feature the top teams from Phase 1 competing against the directly invited teams to decide who will represent the Philippines in the upcoming 31st Southeast Asia (SEA) Games. MPL PH teams also had to adjust their team roster and exclude their underaged players due to age restrictions.
The Sibol MLBB Qualifiers Phase 2 will decide who will compete in the 31st SEA Games
While Phase 1 of the qualifier is currently ongoing, the directly invited teams for the second phase have been revealed.
While fans expected Bren Esports to be one of the directly invited teams, this was not the case; the teams invited are the top four teams from the previously concluded MPL PH Season 8.
Sibol is the Philippine national esports team that participates in the SEA games under the esports category. The team previously dominated the 2019 SEA Games and earned the gold medal for the Mobile Legends esports competition. The team is now looking for the next pro players to field in the upcoming 2021 SEA games through the Sibol MLBB Qualifiers.
MPL PH teams adjust their team rosters due to age restrictions
Two of Blacklist International’s core members, Edward “EDWARD” Dapadap and Kiel “Oheb” Soriano, will not be able to participate as the event is only for players above 18 years of age. To compensate for this, the team signed Kyle Dominic “Dominic” Soto and Lee Howard “Owl” Gonzales to fill the missing roles for the team.
ONIC PH’s Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol will also miss the qualifiers due to his underaged status. In the meantime, Ralph “Flick” Benedict Hamoy will be filling his position.
Omega Esports star player Duane “Kelra” Pillas won’t be able to participate, but reserve players Jhonville Borres “Outplayed” Villa and Cesar Jefferson “Amethyst” Santo will be filling the missing roles.
Nexplay EVOS didn’t need to adjust its team roster. The iconic veterans- John Paul “H2wo” Salonga and Renejay “RENEJAY” Barcarse will be playing alongside the team’s rookies Mariusz “Donut?” Tan, Kenneth “CADENZA” Castro, and Raineil Jhim “MP THE KING” Lagronio.
The stakes are high for all the participating teams in the Sibol MLBB Qualifiers. The team that wins in the second phase will be the one to represent the Philippines in the upcoming 31st SEA Games.
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